Police and RSPCA defend Enfield dog death 'inaction' (From This Is Local London)

Police and RSPCA defend Enfield dog death 'inaction'

11:19am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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THE police and RSPCA have defended their handling of two brutal dog deaths in Enfield.

The organisations have been slammed by residents for their apparent inaction following the incidents, in which one dog was battered to death and the other seemingly strangled.

Both the police and the RSPCA said they would not be investigating the deaths, though the RSPCA has since claimed it "certainly is investigating" - but has restricted powers due to limited resources.

Klare Kennett, RSPCA regional media manager, said: "The RSPCA inspector recently collected the body of the dog found in Winchmore Hill from a vet and we now have it in our freezer as evidence for any prosecution that may result.

"She has also taken statements from the vet and has been in contact with the police over this matter, and CCTV footage has been examined, but not shown anything useful."

Speaking exclusively to the Enfield Independent, Enfield Detective Chief Inspective Paul Healy stressed the "primacy" of the case lay with the RSPCA.

The police checked CCTV for the first death, he said, but could do little more without the identity of the owner.

There was no definite evidence the second dog was strangled, he added, and the police "could not justify" a post-mortem.

He said: "Evidently we have finite resources and finance, and we need to balance resources against demands. We don't even know for sure here whether an offence was committed.

"We have no description of the suspects, so the best we can do is appeal to the public - which is what I understand the RSPCA has done.

"If a suspect was identified, we would assist in their arrest."

DCI Healy admitted he could "understand" why the public were frustrated, but said police targets and priorities lay elsewhere.

In reply to claims that animal cruelty can lead to child abuse, he said he had "not seen any evidence" of a link.

The first dog, a male spaniel cross-breed named Billy by concerned residents, was discovered on January 17 off Queen's Avenue, in Winchmore Hill, after being battered to death.

The second, a brindle Staffie cross-breed, was found in Durants Road with a metal chain embedded in its neck on March 1 after seemingly being strangled.

Residents have set up two Facebook tribute sites and a Gone Too Soon memorial for the dogs. They also funded a post-mortem for Billy, which confirmed he had been repeatedly beaten.

There are now more than 2,750 members of the Facebook group "Can you help identify the Winchmore Hill dog killer?" and another 450 have signed an online petition asking the police to investigate.

Sally Nicholson-Fisher, 49, from Brighton Road, who set up the Facebook group, was dismissive of the organisations' defence.

She said: "I am fully aware the RSPCA investigate animal cruelty, when it suits them, and I am also very well aware the police can and do also investigate such matters. Many other forces take this very seriously.

"The RSPCA clearly does not want to pursue this matter, to the point they would not spend £100 for a post mortem to establish cause of death.

"But the members of our Facebook group are a very determined and committed group of people. We will not go away or be fobbed off."